Lifting-jack.



1?. M. ALLERTON.

LIFIING JACK. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 31. 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909. I

UNITED sTArEs PATENT curios.

FRANCIS M. ALLERTON, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRDTO OSCAR R. ALLEBTON, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, AND ONE-THIRD TOWARREN E; ALLERTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIFTING-JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs M. ALLERTON, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and resident of Benton Harbor, Berrien county, Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lifting- Jacks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to jacks, such, for example, as those for liftingwagons or other heavy structures. 7

The object of my invention is the provision of an improved and highlyefficient lifting jack of such form and character that it will becomparatively cheap to manufacture, simple of operation and powerful inuse, and convenient to handle and apply in the raising and lowering ofwagons or other heavy structures.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed. 4

In the accompanying drawings :Figure l is a front elevation of a liftingjack, embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional viewon the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 4-4 inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the step block or shoulder that isadjustable to different positions on the side of'the vertically movablemember of the jack.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a stationary upright memberA provided at its lower end with a suitable base a, whereby it may restupon the floor or ground. A vertically disposed movable member B isprovided interiorly with guideways 6 that are adapted to fit and slideupon the sides of the member A, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. At itsfront, the member B is provided with two parallel and verticallydisposed columns or rows of ratchet teeth C, the teeth of one row orcolumn being staggered with relation to the teeth of the other row orcolumn. At its upper end, the member A is provided with a concave seator socket D in which rests a convex member d, the latter provided with astem (1 In this way a ball and socket joint is provided, and the saidstem is provided at its lower end with a pivot or fulcrum 0?, upon whichis mounted the hand lever E. The said hand lever is provided preferablywith a pair of notches e-e adapted to engage the said teeth on themember B.

Suppose that the member B is to be raised from the position shown inFig. 2, so as to lift a wagon or other heavy structure. In such case 1the operator will pull up on the lever E until the notch e thereonslides down far enough, to engage the tooth 1, and then by slightoutward movement of the handle of the lever the notch e is disengagedfrom the tooth 2. The handle of the lever is then depressed until thenotch e is in a position to engage the tooth 3, and after suchengagement a slight lateral movement of the lever in the other directionwill disengage the notch e from the tooth 1. This operation is continueduntil the member B is elevated to the desired height, the leveralternately engaging first one row of teeth and then the other. Theweight to be elevated or raised is, of course, upon the member B, and inturn upon the lever E. The weight is then com municated from the saidlever through the stem 03 to the member 03, and from the latter to thetop of the member A, which latter is stationary. The lever can be of anysuitable or desired length, and with the arrangement shown it exerts avery powerful lifting leverage. The operation of lowering the weight isobvious, and is accomplished by alternately disengaging the lever fromfirst one row of teeth and then the other.

The weight can be supported upon the top of the member B. As a matter offurther improvement, however, I provide the side of said member withhooked teeth 6 and with guide-ways b at each side of said teeth-that isto say, the said teeth extend in a vertical row between the twoguideways. A step block or shoulder F is provided with portions fadapted to engage in said guide-ways b and with a lower foot or restingportion f adapted to engage the teeth (2 as shown more clearly inFig. 1. This step block or shoulder F can, it will be seen, be raisedand lowered by swinging out its lower end, so as to disengage the samefrom the teeth, the sliding connection provided being sufliciently looseto admit of this. Thus the said block or shoulder can be positioned atdifferent heights, and the thing to be lifted can be rested thereon.

As shown, the two rows of teeth are on the movable member. It will beseen, however, that the device can simply be turned upside down, so thatthe teeth will then be on the stationary member. For this reason,therefore, I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown anddescribed.

Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lifting jack, two relatively sliding members, two rows of teethon one member, and a lever swiveled on the other member so as to movefreely about a vertical axis, andadapted to engage the teeth of firstone row and then the other.

2. In a lifting jack, two relatively movable members, two rows of teethon one member, a ball and socket joint on the other member, and a leverattached to the ball and socket joint and adapted to engage the teeth offirst one row and then the other.

3. In a lifting jack, two relatively movable members, two vertical rowsof teeth on one member, a fulcrum on the other member, consisting of auniversal joint disposed between said rows of teeth, and a lever on saidfulcrum, adapted to engage said teeth.

4:. In a lifting ack, two relatively sliding members, two rows of teethon one member, a ball and socket joint on the other member, disposedbetween said rows of teeth, a pivot carried by the ball and socketjoint, and a lever on said pivot, adapted to engage said teeth, theteeth of one row being staggered with relation to those of the otherrow.

Signed by me at Benton Harbor, Mich, this 28th day of July 1908.

FRANCIS M. ALLERTON.

Witnesses ANDREW KI. SPINK, GEORGE S. Basswrtr.

